Nature Briefing, 11 December 2024

Extreme heat makes body clocks tick faster

Exposure to extreme heat could be linked to molecular changes that reflect accelerated ageing. Researchers looked at data from almost 4,000 people and cross-referenced their ‘epigenetic clocks’ — a collection of chemical modifications to DNA as people age — with temperature maps.

The team found that people who lived in areas with more hot days had ‘older’ molecular ages than those who had experienced cooler weather. However, factors such as how long each person spent outside, and whether they had air conditioning, weren’t taken into account.

Nature, 9 December 2024

Human body’s ageing ‘clock’ ticks faster after heat

Preliminary study suggests possible link between long-term heat exposure and molecular markers of ageing.

Exposure to extreme heat events is linked to molecular changes that could reflect accelerated ageing, according to a preliminary analysis of DNA markers in more than 3,000 people.

The US-based work, presented at the Gerontological Society of America’s Annual Scientific Meeting in Seattle, Washington, last month, joins a host of other efforts to understand the effects of rising temperatures on human health, as heatwaves strike countries around the world with increasing frequency.